Wallet carrying article

ABSTRACT

A shoulder strap arrangement designed to be slipped about a person&#39;&#39;s arm and over his shoulder. The strap is in the form of a loop and a means is provided to adjust the size of the loop so that it may be snugly placed about a person&#39;&#39;s arm, adjacent his arm pit. A pouch is secured to the strap and a wallet may be placed in the pouch obviating the need for carrying the wallet in a person&#39;&#39;s pants pocket or jacket pocket.

United States Patent Ross [54] WALLET CARRYING ARTICLE [72] Inventor: Mike Ross, 160 East 65th Street, New

York, NY. 10021 [22] Filed: May 27, 1970 21 App1.No.: 40,877

[52] US. Cl ..224/5 R, 224/26 D [51] Int. Cl ..A45c 1/04 [58] Field of Search ..224/2 B, 5 R, 5 K, 5 BC, 5 P, 224/26 R, 26 D, 26 K, 2 D, 26 .1, 19, 5 L, 26 H; 150/47 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,443,397 6/ 1948 Myres ..224/2 B 2,832,519 4/1958 Ojala ..224/2 B 2,542,263 11/1970 Callahan ..224/26 D Mar. 14, 1972 1,558,213 10/1925 Atkins ..224/26 D FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,263,366 3/1961 France ..224/26 641,436 5/1962 Canada ..224/5 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Jerold M. Forsberg An0rney--Kirschstein, Kirschstein, Ottinger & Frank [5 7] ABSTRACT A shoulder strap arrangement designed to be slipped about a persons arm and over his shoulder. The strap is in the form of a loop and a means is provided to adjust the size of the loop so that it may be snugly placed about a person's arm, adjacent his arm pit. A pouch is secured to the strap and a wallet may be placed in the pouch obviating the need for carrying the wallet in a persons pants pocket or jacket pocket.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 lmwmmumu snmmwaraava AY. W MAJ/WW PIC-3.4

INVENTOR MIKE ROSS BY MM) MM. 0 M

ATTORNEYS WALLET CARRYING ARTICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an article for enabling a man to safely and securely carry a wallet on his person.

2. Description of the Prior Art Most men carry their folding money, credit cards, drivers license, etc., in awallet which due to the accumulation of material therein is often quite thick. Usually, the wallet is carried in a pants pocket or in ajacket pocket.

Carrying a wallet in a pants pocket is often inconvenient for a number of reasons. One reason is that a thick wallet creates an unsightly bulge in the pocket. Additionally, some of the larger size wallets are so big that they cannot be conveniently placed in a pants pocket as they are larger than the pocket and thus can only be partially placed therein. A further drawback of keeping a wallet in a pants pocket is the susceptibility of the wallet being pilfered by a pickpocket. This is particularly true with those wallets which are so large that they cannot be completely placed within a pants pocket.

Another disadvantage of carrying a wallet in a pants pocket is that it is uncomfortable and inaccessible for the wearer, particularly when he is seated.

A disadvantage of carrying a wallet in a jacket pocket is that often the wearer of the jacket removes the jacket and hangs it on a hanger or places the jacket on a chair, etc., forgetting to remove the wallet. Many times the wallet is missing when it is later looked for in the jacket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a new concept for enabling a person to conveniently carry a wallet and overcomes some of the disadvantages that were discussed above in carrying a wallet in a persons pants pocket orjacket pocket.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable a person to conveniently carry his wallet.

A further object of the present invention is to enable a person to carry a wallet in a manner that does not require the wallet to be placed in a pants pocket orjacket pocket.

A still further object of the present invention is to enable a person to carry a wallet in a manner so that its chances of being pilfered are greatly reduced.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an article that enables a person to carry a wallet so that it is easily accessible.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an article that is capable of achieving the foregoing and other objects, the article being convenient to be worn and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are achieved by a shoulder strap which is designed to be slipped about a person's arm and over his shoulder. The strap which is in the form of a loop may be manufactured from vinyl plastic, leather, fabric, or any combination thereof. The strap is contoured to fit about the person's arm and a pouch is secured to the strap. One technique of securing the pouch to the strap is to have a slit in the strap and the pouch releasably secured thereto. Means is provided for adjusting the length of the loop so that it may be snugly placed about a persons arm. T

In normal use, the strap is positioned about the person s arm with the pouch directly under his arm pit. The person wearing the aforesaid strap may store his wallet within the pouch and wear a jacket over the strap and enclosed wallet.

Since the pouch is easily removable from the strap it may be replaced by accessories to hold cigarettes, change, eye glasses, pipe, etc.

It can readily be seen from the above description that by utilizing the present invention in the manner described a person can safely carry a wallet without placing it in his pants or jacket pocket. Since the wallet carried in accordance with the present invention is beneath the wearers jacket and adjacent to his body it is extremely difficult for the wallet to be illicitly taken thus providing an added advantage to the present invention.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly constitutes the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the shoulder holster hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a shoulder strap and pouch of the present invention as utilized by a person;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the shoulder strap and pouch of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the shoulder strap and pouch of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the FIGS. the present invention is illustrated and includes a pouch 10 secured to a shoulder strap 12. The shoulder strap is generally U-shaped having a base 14 which is wider than either of its legs 16 or 18 as seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The reason for having the base wider than the legs of the shoulder strap will soon be readily apparent. The shoulder strap may be made from vinyl plastic, leather, fabric, or any combination thereof. Additionally, the strap may be decorated if desired to add to its attractiveness.

The shoulder strap includes a front side 20 (FIG. 2) and a rear side 22 (FIG. 3). Located on front side 20 at the uppermost portion of leg 16 are the backs of two snaps 24. The snaps are arranged so that their concave portions are located on side 22 as will hereinafter be more fully described. In a like fashion two snaps 26 are located on the uppermost portion of leg 18 with their projecting portions extending from side 20.

Located at the uppermost portion of leg 16 on side 22 is a thin strip of a sponge material 30 with portions of snaps 24 extending through material 30. In a like fashion a thin strip of sponge material 31 is located on side 22 of the upper portion of leg 18. Snaps 26 extend through sponge material 31 as can be seen in the FIGS. Sponges 30 and 31 can be made of any type of material that can maintain a good friction grip on a person s shoulder.

Pouch 10 is generally rectangularly shaped and includes a front wall 32 and a rear wall 34. A snap 36 extends through rear wall 34 and has a concave portion on the inside of the pouch. A flap 38 extends from the central uppermost portion of rear wall 36 and through a slit 40 in strap 12.

A snap 42 is located on strap 12 beneath slit 40 and has a projecting portion which can engage the concave part of snap 36. A snap 44 is attached to flap 38 adjacent the free end of flap 38 and has a concave portion which can be engaged with the projecting portion of a snap 46 on front wall 32 of the pouch (FIG. 5).

It is thus readily apparent that the pouch can be quickly and easily secured to strap 12 by merely engaging snaps 36 and 42 and snaps 44 and 46, respectively.

In normal use a person would position the strap as shown in FIG. 1 with the strap extending over his shoulder and over his arm and back to his shoulder. The snaps can be adjusted to provide the proper size loop for different individuals with the sponge materials resting on the persons shoulder to prevent slipping.

By having base 14 wider than legs 16 and 18 the strap is contoured to properly fit about a persons arm. Snaps 44 and 46 are disengaged from each other and a wallet is placed within the pouch with these snaps then being engaged. The wearer may then carry the wallet in the pouch and have it in a convenient position for instant availability.

Additionally, by having the wallet kept in the pouch adjacent the persons chest it is extremely difficult for a pickpocket to illicitly take the wallet since any movement of the pouch will be felt by the person. Another advantage of utilizing the pouch and strap herein described is that with this type of arrangement it is impossible for a person to place his wallet in his jacket, and then place his jacket over a chair, etc., with the wallet inadvertently still in the jacket.

If desired, the pouch may be removed from the strap and other accessories attached to the strap to hold cigarettes, change, eye glasses, pipe, etc.

Having thus described the invention it is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. An article of manufacture for enabling a person to secure an item in a position adjacent his armpit comprising a generally U-shaped strap having a base portion and two leg portions and a first side and a second side, the base portion of said strap being wider than any other portion thereof, a slit located at the base of said strap and extending from the first side of strap to the second side thereof, a pouch, said pouch having a flap which is threaded through said slit, a first fastening means located at the base of said strap, said pouch including a front wall and a rear wall and a second fastening means on said front wall and said flap extending from the uppermost portion of said rear wall and having a third fastening means engageable with the second-fastening means on said front wall, a fourth fastening means located on said rear wall and selectively engageable with said first fastening means, means located at the free ends of each of said legs for enabling said strap to be formed into different sized continuous loops.

2. An article according to claim 1 further including a wallet located in said pouch.

3. An article according to claim 1 further including antislipping material on the second side of said strap on each of the legs thereof.

4. An article according to claim 1 wherein said pouch is rectangularly shaped so as to be able to receive a wallet.

5. An article according to claim 4 wherein said strap is contoured so as to snugly fit over a persons shoulder and rest against his side beneath his arm pit.

6. An article according to claim 1 wherein said first, second, third and fourth fastening means comprise snaps. 

1. An article of manufacture for enabling a person to secure an item in a position adjacent his armpit comprising a generally Ushaped strap having a base portion and two leg portions and a first side and a second side, the base portion of said strap being wider than any other portion thereof, a slit located at the base of said strap and extending from the first side of said strap to the second side thereof, a pouch, said pouch having a flap which is threaded through said slit, a first fastening means located at the base of said strap, said pouch including a front wall and a rear wall and a second fastening means on said front wall and said flap extending from the uppermost portion of said rear wall and having a third fastening means engageable with the second fastening means on said front wall, a fourth fastening means located on said rear wall and selectively engageable with said first fastening means, means located at the free ends of each of said legs for enabling said strap to be formed into different sized continuous loops.
 2. An article according to claim 1 further including a wallet located in said pouch.
 3. An article according to claim 1 further including anti-slipping material on the second side of said strap on each of the legs thereof.
 4. An article according to claim 1 wherein said pouch is rectangularly shaped so as to be able to receive a wallet.
 5. An article according to claim 4 wherein said strap is contoured so as to snugly fit over a person''s shoulder and rest against his side beneath his arm pit.
 6. An article according to claim 1 wherein said first, second, third and fourth fastening means comprise snaps. 